Westside Rentals owner Mark Verge has just bought the American single-resident occupancy apartment building and "has long-range plans to upgrade apartment units in the building and put a Westside Rentals office in as part of the American office," according to the LA Times. The century-old building is most famously the home of punk/grunge institution Al's Bar, which closed down in 2001, but hosted Sonic Youth, Nirvana, the Misfits, Flipper, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Beck in the '80s and '90s. So guess what's in that spot now: a yoga studio/theater! Oh, Arts District, you do deliver. (The building is also home to the Pie Hole and a small grocery store.) Anyway, the American has 47 units (shared bathrooms) and Verge plans to upgrade the 12 that are currently vacant. The businesses will stay in place. Verge says "It's just kind of an old historical building, so I think little by little, I'm just going to try and make it nicer." He also owns Seven Grand, the Golden Gopher, and several other bars.
· Long-closed punk-rock bar still has a fan in new building owner [LAT]
· Oh God, is the Arts District Going to Be the Next Meatpacking? [Curbed LA]
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